A few things from the local agricultural Fair I was helping market (and participate in, winning the photography section).

Cancelled in April with the President of the Ag society saying it couldn't support itself, then revived (with a new Pres) after a huge surge of grassroots support, this century old Fair, near our house southwest of Calgary, finished Saturday with record participation, record entries and a triple of it's normal attendance.

Below, she was very late and the last to frantically enter the infield for the Dressed-Up Horse competition . . . .

. . . . . but emerged with a fancy ribbon nonetheless . . . and we think all little boys and girls should win ribbons.

Below, everybody loves a parade . . . .

. . . . with plenty of waves for the crowd . . . .

. . . . and the Cow To Latte competition which, near as I can tell, is unique to this Fair and now three years old . . . . milk a cow to fill a bottle, a second person runs the product to the latte machine, a third makes a latte to stop the timer. Volume is measured and, meaningless, a volunteer in the crowd chances their life with a taste test for quality. It was a hoot . .

. . . . with Amber Marshall who plays "Amy" on the internationally syndicated TV series "Heartland," which is filmed partly at this race track facility, taking her turn on the business end of the cow (she's a former veterinary assistant) . . . . but alas losing to a team of local media. Although soon to be starting Season 4 in Canada and other places in the world, Heartland's season one will be shown on CBS and a few other networks in 95% of the USA market beginning in September . . . .

What's a county Fair without a quilt auction . . .

. . . . . or strange looking roosters . . .

. . . . or a little helper in a petting zoo handing a goose to an even smaller patron . . . .

. . . . . or the winner being announced for the right to claim a 60 year-old, rusting Massey Harris 44 tractor that had become a legend . . . . and will soon be a set prop on Heartland after escaping bombing at the hands of the Air Force at the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range and/or incineration at the hands of the local fire department . . .